Gas-condensing apparatus.



' 10.790,297. PATENTED MAY2s,19o5.

v o. N. GULDLIN.

GS GONDENSING APPARAIUS.V APPLIVUATION FILEDv DE.0.1,1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 790,297. l PATIHIQLED MAY 23, 1905.

1 0. N. GULDLIN.

GAS 'GONDENSINGv APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.1,190Z.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wittmann 7 m di' wel? y v v A lrroww Patented May 23, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

OLAF N. GULDLIN, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

GAS-CONDENSING APPARATUS.

NOImVQIgIQQIaS forming part of Letters Patent'No. 790,297', dated May 23, 1905. Application filed December 1, 1902. Serial No. 133,465.

To mi) whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, OLAF N. GULDLIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, inthe county of Allen and State of Indiana, -have invented certain new and use'- ful Improvements in Gas-Oondensing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to apparatus for condensing and cooling gas and removing tar` ively cooled by either air or water or by both air and water and which may be termed "combination air and water condensers.

The matter constituting my invention herein will be defined in the claims.

I will now describe the construction and operation of my improved condensing apparatus by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a sectional elevation of the condensing, cooling, and tar-extracting apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a sectional elevation of the condensing apparatus arranged for cooling the condensers with water to the exclusion of air.

During a large part of the year, when the temperature is cool, the external air may be effectively used for cooling the primary and secondary condensers-and additional condensers, if required-resulting in a large saving of water. yAt certain periods of thel year and under certain conditions in the manufacture of gas it is advantageous to pass both air and water through the tubes of the condensers for obtaining the most satisfactory results. Again, at other periods and under other conditions it may be most advantageous and desirable to use water alone for passage through the tubes of the primary and secondary condenser, as well as through the multitubular condenser. It is therefore desirable to present cooling-.surfaces of varying efficiency to suit the volume of gas being made at any time for the purpose ofv gradually and slowly cooling the gas. My apparatus is constructed for meeting these varying conditions and securing the most economical, gradual, and uniform results in the cooling, condensing, and tar-extracting operations.

The bench of retorts 1, the hydraulic main 2, kand the gas-take-off pipe 8 are of the usual well-known construction. Gas leaves the hydraulic main at a temperature between 14()O and 160O Fahrenheit, and in order to reduce it to the proper temperature for the effective and economical extraction of tar without loss of illuminants it is first passed through the primary tubular condenser 4. The condensers 4, 14, and 16 are set upon foundations 30 of stone or concrete. The primary tubular condenser 4 is constructed with upper and lower tube sheets or heads 5 and 6, through which are connected the vertical air and water tubes 7 and said sheets form the top outlet-chamber 4c and the bottom inlet-chamber 4d. The bottom of the shell is provided with air-inlet openings 4f, which communicate with the airtunnel 8 inthe foundation 30, extending, preferably, to the outside of the building. When desired, the openings 4t are closed by plates or lids 4e, Fig. 2, which may be hinged and secured in place in any well-known manner. The transverse baffle-plates 48L in any desired number are secured to the inner wall of the shell alternately at opposite sides thereof, as shown, and

IOO

rods 10c for operating the damper. This damper serves to control the amount of air passed through the tubes according to the make of gas and the temperature of the outer air. It is important that the temperature of the gas passing through the primary condenser be controlled and maintained so that it will leave the condenser at a temperature not less than 90O to 100O Fahrenheit and preferably between 90O and 12()O Fahrenheit, at which the remaining tar is removed.

The secondary condenser 14 is made substantially like the primary condenser, with upper and lower tube-sheets and 6, tubes 7, baffle-plates 4, upper and lower chambers 14 and 14C, air-inlets 14, hood and stack 9, provided with regulating-damper and its attachments 10, 10", and 10. An air-tunnel 8 is also made in the foundation 30 below the condenser and leads, preferably, outside ofthe building. The upper tube sheets or heads 5 and 5 are secured a short distance below the upper ends of the tubes to form a water receptacle or pan, as shown, and the water supply and outlet pipes are connected at a suitable height above the plates to provide a shallow body of water in each of the chambers 4c and 14. By means of the upwardly-projecting tube ends 7 and the connection of overiow water-pipes 23, 24, and 27 with the shells of chambers 4C and 14 at a level with the top ends of the tubes I provide water-receptacles, and by providing valves 25 and 2S in said overflow-pipes water may be caused to iow in thin films down the `interior surfaces of the tubes 7 and be passed olf through the tunnels 8. Without the upwardly-projecting tube ends and the valved inlet and overflow water pipes, the quantity of water passed into the tubes could not be controlled and they would be liable to be iooded and the flow of air through them interrupted. It is desirable that only thin films of water be passed down the tubes while air is passing up the tubes, so as to facilitate the evaporation of water, and thereby increase the cooling eii'ect. The gas-pipe 3 connects with thelower end of the shell of the primary condenser 4 and with the exhauster 11, which in turn connects with a mechanical tar-extractor 12, of any suitable construction,but preferably' an extractor of the Pelouze and Audouin type, which extracts tar by impact and precipitation in a well-known manner. The operation of extracting tar at a regulated temperature, so as to prevent loss of volatile illuminants, is described and claimed in my Patent No. 731,412 formethod of treating gas. A pipe 13 connects the tar-extractor 12 with the upper part of the secondary condenser 14, and a pipe 15 connects the lower end of the tube-chamber of this condenser with the upper part of the multitubular Water-condenser 16, which is constructed in a well-known manner and is provided at the bottom with the inlet water-chamber 16u and at the top with the outlet water-chamber 16", which may be open or closed at top. Baiile-plates 4"` are also secured in the tube-chamber. 'lhe outlet gaspipe 17, connecting with the lower end of the tube-chamber, may lead to the gas washer and scrubber. (Not here shown.)

The cold-water-supply pipe 18 connects with chamber 16, and the outlet-pipe 19 connects with the top chamber 16 of condenser 16 and connects by a branch 20, having a valve 21, with chamber 14" and by a lower branch 19, having a valve 22, with chamber 14' of the secondary combination air and water condenser 14. An overiow-pipe 23 connects with the outlet-chamber 14" at the proper height for maintaining a body of water therein and connects by a branch 24, having a valve 25, with the upper outlet-chamber 4c and by a branch 23, having a valve 26, with the inletchamber 4l of the primary combination air and water condenser 4. An overflow-pipe 27 for hot water, having a valve 2S, connects with chamber 4c and may lead to a storage-tank. (Not here shown.)

By means of the regulating-damper 10 in the primary condenser the temperature of the varying volume of gas,'whieh may vary from day to day or from month to month, may be uniformly controlled. If a comparatively large volume of gas is being generated and passed through the condenser, the damper 10 is more widely opened and a larger quantity of air passed through the tubes. Again, if the temperature of the outside air is higher then a larger quantity is passed through the tubes. As the temperature of the outer air falls the quantity passedthrough the tubes will be correspondingly reduced. By means of this primary condenser, therefore, the temperature of the gas can at all times bc controlled so as to maintain it at a practically uniform temperature above 9()U Fahrenheit as it passes out of the condenser to the cxhauster and tar-extractor 12. 1n the secondary condenser 14 the gas is preferably reduced to about 80O Fahrenheit for linal reduction to 6()O in condenser 16, when it will bc in the best condition for extraction of the ammoniacal compounds during the washing and scrubbing operations. The water overflowing from chamber 16lof condenser 16 may with great ad vantage be passed through pi pe 20 and its valve 21 into chamber 14 and out through pipe 23 into chamber 4c or caused to overflow through the cooling-tubes 7 in condenser 14, so that a iilm of water shall be passing down while air is passing up through each of the tubes. By closing valve 25 the water admitted to the receptacle in chamber 14L will be caused to flow over the u pwardly-projecting tube ends 7 and pass in thin lilms down the interior surfaces of the tubes. ',lhc amount of water admitted to the receptacle is controlled by valve 21, so that the tubes shall not be flooded with water. By partly opening lOO llO

, valve part of the water` may be passed into chamber 4c and caused to flow over the upwardly-projecting tube ends 7a and in thin films down the interior surfaces of thetube in condenser 4. It is to be noted that the tube ends 7 l do not project quite so high in chamber 4c as in chamber 14, so that the water may be caused to How as above' described. By means of valve 28 part or all of the water admitted to chamber 4" may be drawn oli' through pipe 27. The cooling effect of the water is thus obtained and in addition the cooling effect due to evaporation of the water. The cooling effect of currents of air passing through the tubes is also obtained. If preferred, the air maybe shut off by closing the covers or plates 14e on their seat at thelower end of the con-4 denser. When it is desired to more fully utilize the overflow water from condenser 16, the bottom plates 14e of condenser 14 ywill be secured, on their seats, valve 21 closed Vand valve 22 opened, thereby causing the water to flow up through the tubes and o6? through pipe 23. By opening valve 25 in pipe 24 the water will flow into chamber 4c and out 4through pipe 27 or ldown the tubes in condenser 4, or by closing valve 25 and opening valves 26 and 28 the water will iow up th rough the tubes 7 and'thence olf through pipe 27, it

being understood that the covers 4e are then closed on their seats.

It will thus be seen that my combination air and water condensers are readily convertible and adapted to cooling'by air alone, air and water, or water alone, according to volume of gas to be treated and to the atmospheric conditions. Great economy and effectiveness are secured in the operation of the condensers, besides insuring the very important feature of gradually cooling the gas essential in the treatment of coal-gas.

Where lhollow foundations 30 cannot be `conveniently constructed in any particular location, the openings 4f-an'd 14b'may be located on the sides of the chambers 41 and 140, and preferably in theform of square or rectangular manholesand provided with tightitting covers. In this case the air will generally be'drawn into the condensers from the' chamber of the foundation 30 and passed oli?v through a suitable drain, over which the air will be passed and thereby cooled before entering the tubes. The water in chambers 4c and 14 keeps the tube-sheets cool, preventing undue expansion and contraction and consequent leaks at the joints of the tubes.

Though the water-condenser 16 is shown in claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. A tubular gas cooler and condenser having at the lower end an air inlet and chamber opening into the tubes, and at the top an airoutlet provided with a damper or valve for regulating and controlling the flow of air, andA thus regulating the temperature of the gas,.

also having at the top a water-receptacle, upj Wardly projecting tube ends therein, and means for controlling the supply to, and discharge of water from, 'said receptacle, and gas inlet and outlet pipes connecting with the shell inclosing vthe tubes, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an upright tubular condenser, having an air inlet and chamber opening into the tubes at the bottom and an outlet-chamber and tube sheet or head at 7 a, of a water-supply pipe having avalve opening above said head, whereby water may be caused to cool the head and to flow in lilms down the tubes While air is passed up through them, and gas inlet and outlet pipes connecting with the shell inclosing the tubes, substantially as described.

3. A tubular gas cooler and condenser, constructed with upper and lower tube sheets or heads, tubes extending through the same and having upwardly-projecting ends 7 a, inlet and outlet chambers for the coolingfluid at top and bottom, water supply and ov`eriow pipes connecting with the upper chamber above the tube-sheet, transverse'baflie-plates extending from opposite sides of the shell for deflecting the gas back and forth around the tubes, gas inlet and outlet pipes connecting with the shell, `substantially as described.

4. The combination with a gas cooler and condenser, constructed with upper and lower tube-sheets, connecting-tubes, an inlet-chamber at the bottom having an air-inlet, and an outlet-chamber at the top, of a water-supply pipe, having a Valve, connectingwith the bottom inlet-chamber, a water-outlet pipe conthe top, through which project the tube ends IIO necting with the top outlet-chamber and means 5. The combination with a gas cooler and`- condenser, constructed with upper and lower tube-sheets, connecting-tubes, upper and lower inlet and outlet chambers for cooling fluid baving air inlet and outlet openings, of a valved Water-supply pipe connecting with the upper chamber, an outlet Water-pipe connecting with said chamber, a valved Water-supply pipe oonneeting with the lower chamber, and means for closing said air-inlet, substantially as described.

6. The combination witlia multitubular water-cooled condenser having; a water chamber and supply pipe at the bottom and an outletchamber at the top, of a tubular air-condenser having upper and lower tube-sheets, connecting-tubes having upwardly-projecting ends above the upper tube-sheet, an air-inlet at the bottom and an air-outlet chamber at the top provided with a controlling valve or damper, and a valved water-pipe Connecting the top chamber of the water-condenser with the top chamber of the air-condenser, and an overflow Water-pipev connecting with said chamber above the tube-sheet, substantially as described.

Aln testimony wliereoil I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLAF N. (JrULDLl N.

Witnesses:

Tierno. H. SCHEUMANN, R. S. ROBERTSON. 

